The Radio National Hour

It's summer on ABC Radio National, so we're bringing you some of your favourite stories from 2025. Today, the Murdoch family's real life succession drama, which saw Rupert try to subvert the family trust  and install favoured son Lachlan as heir apparent.  Also, a colossal comeback, I’ll speak to one of the scientists who this year claims to have brought the dire wolf back from extinction after ar...

It's summer on ABC Radio National, so we're bringing you some of your favourite stories from 2025. First, we might look back on 2025 as the year of Artificial Intelligence and this year’s winner of the Turing Prize Dr Richard Sutton, says we have nothing to fear. Also, this year marked 50 years since the release of Picnic at Hanging Rock, we spoke to celebrated Australian director Peter Weir. And,...

It's summer on ABC Radio National, so we're bringing you some of your favourite stories from 2025. First, a year ago today NASA got closer to the sun than we've ever been before, you’ll hear from the project scientist for the Parker Solar Probe mission. Also, Irish writer Colm Tóibín on the fear of missing out...  And, piano virtuoso Andrea Lam was just 13 years old when she debuted with the Sydne...

It's summer on ABC Radio National, so we're bringing you some of your favourite stories from 2025. Today, how medical researchers and practitioners have been blind to differences of sex and gender with deadly consequences. Plus, Saul Griffith’s electrifying “how-to guide“ for your life and home.  And the bold plan to resurrect the railway linking the Islamic holy city of Medina to the oldest capit...

It's summer on ABC Radio National, so we're bringing you some of your favourite stories from 2025. Today, an ethical dilemma, should we eliminate a species of mosquito to save people from malaria?  Guy Pearce talks about filming his indie film Inside in, yes, you guessed it, an actual Victorian prison.  And we reflect on the extraordinary legacy of Virginia Giuffre who took on the rich and powerfu...

It's summer on ABC Radio National, so we're bringing you some of your favourite stories from 2025. Today, it’s cyclone season in Australia which means millions of us are - hopefully -ready to batten down the hatches at short notice. But how do scientists and engineers figure out how to build stronger shelters … at the Cyclone Testing Station of course.  Also ahead … the problem with political prag...

It's summer on ABC Radio National, so we're bringing you some of your favourite stories from 2025. Today, amid growing resistance to the use of the death penalty in the US, some states are resorting to firing squads. Also ahead, they have a smile that could melt even the hardest hearts, but Axolotls are critically endangered.  And Mike Bowers explains why “photographs are the receipts for the roug...

It's summer on ABC Radio National, so we're bringing you some of your favourite stories from 2025. Today, South Korea acknowledges human rights of thousands of adopted children were violated. Bringing back the 'Australian-made mindset' for fashion manufacturing. And, 'roid rage', athletes push back against Enhanced Games.

National Cabinet has agreed to strengthen gun laws across the country in the wake of the Bondi terror attacks, which has left at least 16 people dead and dozens more injured. But questions remain about how closely intelligence authorities should have been monitoring the alleged murderers, as the attack leaves some Jewish people questioning whether they can now allow their religious identity to be...

FIFA is under fire over the price of tickets to next year’s Football World Cup. In the initial offer today fans are being asked to pay up to 13 thousand dollars for a ticket to the World Cup final. 

The Trump Administration has taken a wrecking ball to America’s science establishment this year, slashing funding for research into cancer, vaccines, climate change and even its prized space agency NASA and the impacts aren’t just confined to the USA. 

The Coalition is poised for a fresh debate over immigration, flagging deportations of unlawful migrants, and an Australian values test. It's an issue that’s emboldened right wing populists and brought violence to the streets of western democracies like Britain, the US and Europe. How can Australia have this debate without importing the divisions? 

Dozens of Australian families have been left homeless after bushfires took hold this weekend in communities and towns across three states. But some homes survived the inferno, so how do we design and build for a fiery future?

America’s latest national security strategy has landed with a thud in world affairs. According to it, Europe is in civilisational decline, China can be managed economically, and immigration is America's major security threat. So where does this all leave Australia - for so long, the deputy sheriff to Washington in our region? 

After last week’s pit stop pandemonium can Australian Oscar Piastri is still in with a chance to claim the Formula 1 championship. But questions are being asked about team McClaren's strategy and priorities heading into the final flag.  Australia's chief justice of the Federal Circuit and Family Court, Will Alstergren has taken the unusual step of publicly convening a forum of male leaders across...

The anger is growing at pace with the death toll in Hong Kong after fire tore through seven apartment blocks last week. As more details emerge - of the defective building materials that fuelled the inferno and the alarms that were deactivated, there’s also signs Beijing is intent on extinguishing dissent in this grieving community.    

“It’s a beautiful day for fishing”, that was the final message sent by Colombian man Alejandro Carranza Medina to his family, just hours before he was killed in a US strike near Venezuela. America insists he was smuggling drugs, but his family is demanding compensation. 

He once boasted he would stuff cocaine right up the noses of the gringos, but the former Honduran president convicted and sentenced to 45 years for drug trafficking could soon walk out of his Manhattan jail cell with a pardon from Donald Trump. The same US President who’s currently pursuing Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro over his alleged involvement in drug trafficking. The decision has shoc...

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally asked for a pardon from President Isaac Herzog relating to corruption charges against him. The Prime Minister insists he’s innocent and that the long running trial is is preventing him from governing properly and tearing at Israel's social cohesion. 

In recent days there's been fevered speculation on social media channels in Pakistan and India about the welfare of former Pakistani Prime Minister and international cricketer Imran Khan, with some even suggesting he has been killed in prison. Authorities in Pakistan say the claims are unfounded and that he is alive and well. 

The long campaign to pass new environmental laws finally ends in the government’s favour, with a little help from the Greens. And Barnaby Joyce, quits the party he once led. But what does his future hold? Was a steak and salad dinner with Pauline Hansen enough to win him over to One Nation? 

Fran Kelly brings you compelling conversations on issues that challenge,entertain and inspire us. 

Fran Kelly brings you compelling conversations on issues that challenge,entertain and inspire us. 

Ukraine is locked in negotiations with US leaders over a proposed peace plan that could see it forced to cede the Donetsk region to Russia. US President Donald Trump had given Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky until Thanksgiving  - this Thursday - to respond to his 28-point peace plan which demanded many concessions from Kyiv, including relinquishing territory. Ukrainian MP Inna Sovsun says a...

G20 leaders, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have arrived in Johannesburg for the group’s first ever summit in Africa. The US President is a no-show, a protest over what he has described as a 'white genocide' unfolding in South Africa. So what does it mean for the economic bloc and who might step into the global leadership role?